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How many of us begin each year by creating a yearly resolutions list? How many of us then not complete all of those resolutions? And lastly, how many have given up creating any kind of resolutions as we all know, time will get away from us and who can really remember what they vowed to do back on January 1?

The above is why I am glad I stumbled upon an article written by J.T. O’Donnell on the 10 Things To Do Every Workday. Once something becomes a routine, it’s hard to get out of that routine. And if you do, you actually feel bad about it and make sure to get back on the horse. So what are these 10 things that J.T. resolves to do each and every day? Well, they are simple, completely manageable and keep you on top of your game. Who wouldn’t want that?

Read something related to my industry.

Read something related to business development.

Send two emails to touch base with old colleagues.

Empty my private client inbox by responding to all career coaching questions within one business day.

Check in with each team member on their progress.

Have a short non-work related conversation with every employee.

Review my top three goals for my company that are focused on its growth.

Identify and execute one task to support each of my top three goals.

Post five valuable pieces of content on all my major social media accounts.

Take a full minute to appreciate what I have and how far I’ve come.

I have highlighted the tasks I think I need to get better at which should aid me in becoming a better manager, leader, and person. As for my other five tasks:

Check in with each team member on their progress.

Have a short non-work related conversation with every employee.

Review my top three goals for my company that are focused on its growth.

Identify and execute one task to support each of my top three goals.

Take a full minute to appreciate what I have and how far I’ve come.

Read one article in Spanish to keep up my knowledge of the language.

Go through my to do list and ensure that at least two things have been checked off each and every day. Too often we get bogged down in emails and phone calls and then at the end of the day feel like nothing has been accomplished.

Do one or two personal things that you can only do during business hours. This might make you feel like you have a better work/life balance.

Get up from my desk!

If it’s possible, instead of emailing, call the person you are trying to get in touch with and move the needle along on a project via the phone.

What are the 10 things you’ll try and accomplish in your workday? You may not get to all of them, as J.T. states, but as I mentioned above, if you get at least a few checked off, you’ll feel much better about yourself by the time you go home.

Thanks for the great article J.T. and getting us to think a bit more outside the box.

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Yesterday we were at the half way point of the year, 182 days behind us and 182 to go. So, I wanted to take a look at my new year’s resolutions and see if I am keeping up with them. I encourage you to do the same. Here were mine from the beginning of the year:

1. Continue reading el pais daily in order to improve my Spanish. –> Half Fail. I really need to get back to doing this. I used to get my news and improve my Spanish. I plan on reinstating this daily activity immediately. However, I am quite pleased with the fact that I had to use a lot of Spanish while we were on our honeymoon.

2. Read more. I have actually decided to join Real Simple Magazine’s virtual book club. I urge others who don’t have time for a real book club to join in. First book of the year? Mindy Kaling’s, Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me? So far, I’m loving it. –>Win. I have been reading every book so far, for the exception of one I had already read and totally enjoy how I have read books that I would never otherwise read. I am also happy that it’s not taking me two years to read one book. I encourage you to jump on the No Obligation book club’s wagon.

3. Get back into photography. Somewhere between this past spring and now I have lost the desire to photograph every minute of my life. I need to get back to taking pictures and improving myself.–>Fail, I have not gotten back into photography. That’s not to say I’m not taking pictures all the time but it’s to say that I’m not actually doing anything with them.

Well, can I even say that one out of two ain’t bad? I guess I have to, with the thought that I will attack the other two goals in the latter part of the year.

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It was my two year blogaversary back on Saturday! I cannot believe how far along this blog has come and how much I have learned! Thank you all so much for reading and I hope to keep the content interesting and insightful!

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Have you followed me to my new domain, Business Casual 365? I would love it if you did as I am beginning to wonder if I made the right choice in moving my blog. I am starting off by going through my top 5 postings from this blog and then will delve into other things I hope you still find useful.

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Don’t worry, I have not forgotten to blog. I’ve just been busy AND I’ve begun another blog which I hope to migrate all of the entries from here to. I hope you’ll follow me there. For now, you can take a look at my progress and let me know what you think of the name, Business Casual 365.

As I said after 6 months, I have to say that without the world we live in now I wouldn’t be where I am now. I not only get to share my advice and get feedback from thousands of people but I also get to use my knowledge of social media at work.

2. Explaining Gaps in Your Resume – “We all wonder how to answer the “gap” question. Should I fill the time between being laid off and now with the part time job I am working in? But what if it has nothing to do with the industry I am looking for a job in? What if I fill it with classes I am taking?”

3. Non-Compete Laws, The Ugly Part of Contract Work – “A number of people I know are freelancing, or have started their own businesses in an effort to make ends meet. What if they keep in contact with contacts they have made in their previous job? Well, your previous employer could potentially take you to court.”

4. Looking Good, Job Candidate – “As the job pool widens and the job search closes in, how about another thing we all need to think about when interviewing? And that “thing” is, looking put together, a.k.a looking good.”

7. Informational Interviews – “The informational interviews are a great way to gain insight into your industry and network. These interviews have been especially helpful for me as I’m in a niche industry and well, the more people you know the better your chances are of finding a job!”

10. The Terrible Woes of Unemployment – “After talking to three different people on the unemployment hot line I was told three different stories about what extension I am on and about my eligibility. ”

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year’s Eve and a fantastic 2011! See you next year!

2. SEO and How it Will Help Your Company. “…if you don’t optimize your site for certain keywords it my never get found. Being found is something that’s very important for a company, especially one that is starting out.”

3. Top 20 Interview Questions. ““Bare in mind that the interview starts from the minute you walk into the building until you leave and are out of sight. Don’t think that just because you have left the meeting room, you are “off the hook.” You need to maintain an image of confidence, enthusiasm, competence, reliability and professionalism throughout.”

4. The HIRE Act-Encouraging Employers to Hire the Unemployed! “The HIRE Act is aimed at providing hiring incentives to restore some of the jobs lost in the latest economic recession. The goal is to help put Americans back to work as soon as possible. Business owners that hire qualifying workers sooner rather than later will get the most out of the tax credits, as the tax credits diminish over time, disappearing completely by January 1, 2011.”

11. Resume Gaps. “…although I am not an HR director, here are my tips for how to fill gaps in your resume…”

12.The Job Search as It Relates to Dating. “the job search is a lot like dating. And here is why…1. When you look for a potential person to date, you, nowadays, explore your options in clubs, bars and sometimes even on line…sounds a lot like, networking and looking on job boards…”

* bring any other notes you may have made while interviewing for the job

Personally, I couldn’t be more excited to wear “grown up” clothes again. At the beginning of this whole ordeal I was glad that I hadn’t just thrown out a lot of my casual clothes, because quite honestly, how often do you wear a basic t-shirt and jeans while working in the corporate world? Now I’m extremely glad that I can buy corporate clothes again. I long for my pencil skirts, long work pants, blouses and high heels that don’t need to be appropriate for an 8 hour day on my feet but rather need to look good for getting me from my car to the office and to walk from one cube to the next.

Gone are the days when I prepared for 8 hours of manual labor in a stock room opening anywhere between 20-60 boxes and organizing clothes racks. As much as I loved those days, I’m quite ready and quite happy about this change!